Gov. Mark Dayton issued an executive order today that establishes a new state task force on health care reform.

The 17-member panel will develop recommendations for improving health care delivery and lowering costs. The Democratic governor appointed representatives from the administration business, labor, nonprofit groups and health care organizations. There are four seats designated for the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson will chair the Minnesota Health Care Reform Task force. During a conference call with reporters, Jesson said Minnesota is consistently one of the healthiest states but needs to do better.

“We’ve got serious gaps and disparities between our healthiest and least healthiest Minnesotans, and we need to close them,” Jesson said. “The number of uninsured in Minnesota is increasing, which is unacceptable.”

The task force will look for ways to address the disparity issue, along with improving access to health care and lowering costs preventative care incentives.

UPDATE

Dayton’s executive order also established a separate, 15-member task force to help develop a health insurance exchange, which is a key part of new federal health care law.